MBAGADHI FREDERICK NKAYI: Nakasongola Proposal for New Capital City Not Far-Fetched

As the debate on relocating Uganda’s capital gains momentum in the public domain, particularly in the print media, the proposal deserves an informative and critical analysis.

From the onset, Kampala has been at the heart of Uganda’s political, economic and social life for generations. However, as the city continues to expand and the concentration of national institutions, businesses and people places increasing pressure on its infrastructure, Uganda must begin thinking beyond its current administrative geography.

The question is no longer simply how to manage Kampala better, but whether the country should plan for a new administrative capital capable of meeting the demands of Uganda’s next stage of development.

As a matter of policy discussion, during a recent Parliamentary Committee meeting, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Margaret Muhanga, mentioned a proposal to relocate the capital city to Nakasongola, citing its central location, relatively low population and spacious land as favourable features for such a transition.

The proposal to develop Nakasongola therefore deserves to be considered within the wider national vision. It is not simply about moving government offices from one location to another; it is about how Uganda can organise its growth more deliberately, distribute opportunities more widely and build the foundations of the Uganda we want to see by 2040 and beyond.

Historically, Kampala remains indispensable to Uganda’s economic and social life. Yet its present status is partly a product of history. The city grew following the establishment of Frederick Lugard’s fort on Old Kampala in 1890. Entebbe subsequently served as the colonial administrative centre, while Kampala developed rapidly as a commercial and political centre before becoming Uganda’s national capital at independence in 1962.

In reality, the much-desired independence inherited much of that urban structure rather than creating it from scratch. Ugandans can therefore legitimately ask whether the administrative geography inherited from the past remains the best arrangement for the future.

Analytically, Nakasongola presents a credible strategic alternative. Its lower population pressure and larger land area offer greater scope for deliberate, long-term planning. According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) census statistics, Kampala has 1,797,722 residents within 194.3 square kilometres, while Nakasongola has 226,074 residents within a geographical area of 3,314 square kilometres.

Nakasongola’s strategic location and centrality—approximately 111 kilometres from Kampala, and relatively equidistant from the north, east and west—could make it easier for Ugandans from different parts of the country to access. Its spacious land, rangelands, wetlands, water resources, livestock and tourism potential could support planned development and a purpose-built administrative capital on a “blank canvas”, rather than attempting to overcome Kampala’s traffic congestion and challenging terrain.

Being in the Cattle Corridor also means Uganda could design a modern, climate-smart and solar-powered city from scratch.

In terms of security and strategic value, Nakasongola already hosts a UPDF Air Force base and other military installations.

In the interim, however, Uganda would not be breaking new ground. Brazil moved its capital from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília in 1960 as part of a broader strategy to promote development and the occupation of the country’s interior.

Nigeria relocated its federal capital from Lagos to Abuja in 1991, with centrality, accessibility and national unity among the key considerations. Tanzania equally moved its capital from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma in the 1970s, while Malawi shifted its capital from Zomba to Lilongwe.

These experiences demonstrate that capital relocation can be used as an instrument not only to address congestion, but also to foster deliberate national planning rather than being treated merely as an administrative exercise.

This, in my view, is the strength of the proposal.

A new administrative capital would not mean abandoning Kampala. Instead, Kampala could continue to serve as Uganda’s commercial and cultural powerhouse, while a carefully planned administrative city creates new and bigger opportunities elsewhere.

The objective should be to complement Kampala, not diminish it.

Mbagadhi Frederick Nkayi

Commissioner, RDC Secretariat – Office of the President

Kampala Metropolitan